With the World Cup 2019, cricket’s biggest event underway, India’s obsessive attention has moved away from politics to the men in blue. We have seen five matches so far and this is what the memes tell us about them:
England scored 311 runs and lost 8 wickets. The South Africans fell way short, getting only 207 runs; losing all their wickets before the 40th over was done.
The South African cricket team has always been a talented and cohesive fighting unit – until they reach the finals, that is. Deservedly or undeservedly, the tag of chokers has long followed them around.
It was a short, brutal, painfully one sided match. The Pakistan team laboured to an abysmal total of 105 (all out) in 21.4 overs. The West Indians galloped home in the 14th over losing just three wickets.
The stars failed to shine. Only four batsmen got into double figures. The highest individual score was 22 (Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam).
People have little patience with those who pointed out that the Pak team had begun poorly in 1992 (the only time that the Pakistan team won the world cup); as though beginning poorly was a recipe for success later.
It was another dispiritingly low-scoring match. Sri Lanka lost all their wickets in 29.2 overs with the scoreboard at a dismal 137 runs.
The New Zealand team overhauled the target, finishing off the game in just 16.1 overs. The Kiwis did not even lose one wicket as they cruised home.
It was almost as one-sided as some people assumed it would be, but still, a much more honourable loss than the Pakistan and Sri Lankan routs. Afghanistan made 207, getting all out in 38.2 overs. The Australians cruised home in the 35th over; losing three wickets.
A lot of cricket fans were delighted by the batting displays of David Warner (89 off 114) and Aaron Finch (66 off 49).
Bangladesh made 330 for 6 in their allocated overs but the South Africans fell short. Bangladesh won by 21 runs in the end.
The batsmen did well to get to 330 and the bowlers did well to defend the total. Some viewed this as a revenge of the Asians.
On 3rd June, England take on Pakistan and Afghanistan will face off against Sri Lanka on the 4th. India is scheduled to play its first official World Cup match on Wednesday against the South Africans.
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